Military History

Want to witness a reenactment? Check out Forts Morgan or Gaines, where costumed guides depict scenes of daily life and historic battles. While you're at Fort Gaines, you can't miss the cannon firing demonstrations and the giant anchor from the USS Hartford, Admiral David G.

Farragut's famous vessel. If you're more of a night owl, Fort Morgan offers candlelight tours on Tuesdays. For those more nature-inclined, Blakeley State Park is not only the site of a Civil War memorial, but it also boasts fantastic nature trails and campgrounds.

FORT OF COLONIAL MOBILE - DOWNTOWN MOBILE

BUILT: 1723 (although the structure
that now stands is an 80-percent
scale replica)
CONTROLLED BY: French, British, Spanish and
American forces
NAMED FOR: France's Prince of Condé
COMBAT: Battle of Fort Charlotte,
American Revolution
INTERESTING FACT: Under restoraction and reactivation, will reopen under new management and programming in 2017.

FORT GAINES - DAUPHIN ISLAND

BUILT: Begun in 1819, completed in 1862 by
Confederate forces
NAMED FOR: War of 1812 hero General
Edmund P. Gaines
CONTROLLED BY: United States, Confederacy
COMBAT: Battle of Mobile Bay, Civil War
INTERESTING FACT: August 2014 marked the 150th
anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay.

FORT MIMS - TENSAW, IN NORTH

BALDWIN COUNTY
BUILT: 1813
NAMED FOR: Early Baldwin County settler
Samuel Mims
CONTROLLED BY: White Alabama settlers
COMBAT: Battle of Fort Mims, Creek War
INTERESTING FACT: Major Daniel Beasley, the
commander of the fort, was killed as he
tried to close the gate against the hostile Red
Stick warriors. More than 250 men, women
and children were slaughtered, and the attack
became known as the Fort Mims Massacre.

FORT MORGAN - WESTERN TIP OF MOBILE

POINT, NEAR GULF SHORES
BUILT: 1819 - 1833 (The former Fort Bowyer
was built on the same site in 1813, and it
served as the scene for two important
battles in the War of 1812.)
NAMED FOR: American Revolution hero
General Daniel Morgan
CONTROLLED BY: United States, Confederacy
COMBAT: Battle of Mobile Bay, Civil War
INTERESTING FACT: It was also a stop on the Trail
of Tears as the Native American tribe of
Creek Indians of Alabama camped here
briefly as they were forced to move.